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Nine Muslim-Majority Countries Agreed to Join the Board of Peace
1-28-2026
The formation of the Board of Peace, a new international organization championed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, marks a significant development in post-war Middle East diplomacy. Established in the aftermath of the Gaza war, the Board positions itself as a transitional authority tasked with overseeing ceasefire enforcement, reconstruction, and stabilization efforts—particularly in Gaza—through a mandate reportedly authorized by a United Nations Security Council resolution extending through 2027.
Within months of its announcement, the Board of Peace has drawn formal commitments from 19 countries, including a substantial bloc of Muslim-majority nations whose participation provides regional legitimacy and financial backing. The initiative represents a departure from traditional UN-led frameworks, emphasizing speed, concentrated authority, and direct capital investment.
Muslim-Majority Countries That Agreed to Join
Among the 19 participating states, nine Muslim-majority countries have confirmed acceptance of the invitation to join the Board of Peace. These countries represent diverse regions across the Muslim world and include both long-standing U.S. partners and influential regional mediators.
The confirmed Muslim-majority participants are:
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Egypt
Qatar
Jordan
United Arab Emirates
Kuwait
Indonesia
Pakistan
Together, these states form the regional backbone of the Board. Their participation places key Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Southeast Asian actors directly inside the decision-making structure governing Gaza reconstruction, ceasefire oversight, and humanitarian coordination.
Notably, Israel is also a confirmed participant, positioning the Board as a rare forum that includes Israel alongside leading Muslim-majority states within a single peace-building structure.
The Board’s Mandate and Legal Authorization
The Board of Peace operates under a reported UN Security Council authorization, granting it authority to perform defined peace-building functions until the end of 2027. While not replacing the United Nations, the mandate allows the Board to temporarily assume responsibilities often handled by UN agencies, particularly in post-conflict environments.
The Board’s core mandate includes:
Consolidation and monitoring of a Permanent Ceasefire
Oversight of Gaza Reconstruction
Coordination of a Humanitarian Aid Surge
Facilitation of hostage and prisoner exchange mechanisms
Support for demilitarisation efforts tied to post-war stabilization
This mandate reflects a hybrid structure—internationally sanctioned but operationally independent—designed to bypass procedural delays often associated with multilateral UN bodies.
Executive Board Charter and Leadership Structure
The governance model of the Board of Peace is highly centralized. Donald Trump serves as Chairman, holding authority to appoint members of the Executive Board and define operational strategy.
The Executive Board includes high-profile political and diplomatic figures reportedly involved in shaping the charter, including:
Jared Kushner
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff
The charter emphasizes decisiveness and concentration of authority, a structure supporters argue is necessary to manage a post-conflict environment as complex as Gaza. Critics, however, warn that such centralization risks undermining collective accountability.
Funding Model and Membership Structure
A defining feature of the Board of Peace is its capital-driven funding model, which sharply contrasts with the UN’s assessed contribution system.
Under the Board charter:
Countries contributing $1 billion (approx. £740 million) receive permanent seats on the Executive Board
Other member states serve renewable three-year terms
Funding is earmarked for immediate humanitarian deployment and long-term infrastructure reconstruction
This structure ensures the Board has access to rapid, dedicated funding for large-scale projects such as housing reconstruction, utilities restoration, and public services in Gaza.
Saudi Arabia is widely reported to be positioned as a principal financial contributor, with Qatar and the UAE also playing significant funding roles.
Strategic Reasons for Regional Buy-In
The willingness of Muslim-majority states to commit politically and financially reflects a shared strategic calculation: participation guarantees direct influence over Gaza’s future rather than leaving outcomes to external powers.
Regional leaders have emphasized that engagement through the Board allows them to:
Shape ceasefire terms and enforcement mechanisms
Oversee aid distribution to prevent diversion or misuse
Anchor reconstruction to Palestinian political rights and self-determination
Prevent unilateral control of Gaza’s post-war governance by any single power
For countries such as Egypt and Jordan, border security and refugee stability are also central concerns, while Indonesia and Pakistan frame their participation around humanitarian responsibility and international advocacy for Palestinian rights.
Composition and Global Scope
In total, the Board of Peace reportedly includes 19 countries, blending Muslim-majority states, Western powers, and Israel into a single transitional framework. Discussions have also involved global actors such as Russia, with Moscow indicating cautious engagement without formal confirmation at the time of reporting.
This broad composition underscores the Board’s ambition to operate as a new center of gravity in Middle East diplomacy—one capable of managing post-conflict transitions where existing international mechanisms have struggled.
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